() - ruffian & rogue

Tone 3

pǐ | 12 strokes | radical:

·

ruffian;

rogue;

scoundrel;

also refers to a lump or swelling in traditional Chinese medicine;

slang for hooligan or gangster.

ruffianroguescoundrel

Usage highlights

local ruffianhooligangangster bosslump in medicineruffian spiritrogue behavior

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 君子gentleman; noble person
  • 绅士gentleman; refined person
  • 善人good person; philanthropist

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was a local ruffian (地痞).
  • The neighborhood bully (痞子) caused trouble.
  • In traditional medicine, this is considered a lump (痞块).
  • The gangster boss (痞子头) controlled the area.

Collocations

  • local ruffian(地痞)
  • hooligan(痞子)
  • gangster boss(痞子头)
  • lump in medicine(痞块)
  • ruffian spirit(痞气)
  • rogue behavior(痞行)

Idioms

  • Local ruffians and street gangsters(地痞流氓)
  • Rogues and scoundrels(痞子混混)
  • Gangster spirit(痞子精神)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally a medical term in traditional Chinese medicine referring to abdominal masses or lumps.
  • Evolved to describe social outcasts and troublemakers in Ming and Qing dynasty literature.
  • In modern usage, often associated with underground society figures and anti-establishment attitudes.
  • Sometimes romanticized in popular culture as 'charming rogues' with their own code of honor.

FAQ